Hobby Lobby grand opening in Totowa interrupted by protestors

TOTOWA - About a dozen protestors turned out to oppose the opening of a Hobby Lobby on Route 46 Monday morning because of the chain's choice not to provide coverage of certain contraceptives for its employees that are not in keeping with its religious beliefs.

Ellen Tanner, right, of Fair Lawn, along with other protestors oppose the opening of a new Hobby Lobby in Totowa on Monday morning because of the company's policy of not providing health coverage for certain contraceptive measures for its employees.

The company's choice not to provide coverage of four specific methods of contraception follows a 5-4 Supreme Court ruling last week that allowed it to deny coverage for the birth control methods.

As store employees looked on just at 9 a.m. and protestors chanted in opposition to the opening, Debbie Kinsey, director of management ministries for the chain, lead a morning prayer.

She raised her voice to overcome the protestors, who were chanting "One, two, three, four, let's go shop at A.C. Moore," and she thanked God for the opportunity to move the store to Totowa and for the customer base.

"By the grace of God, we're opening five stores today," she said referring to shops, which the company is also opening in Howell, Philipsburg, Texas and California.

She added, "We are just blown away by the sales and the support from the community." Although absent from the opening at the site of a former Conway clothing store, were any local officials, however the North Jersey Chamber of Commerce, the local business association for Totowa, did show.

Brian Tangora, president of the chamber, who was there for the ribbon cutting and later took a tour of the store, emphasized that he was there to support the store because of the increase in business and new employment it brings to the borough. The store, estimated by the company at 44,000 square feet, Totowa brings 54 new employees to Totowa.

Tangora said that his group takes no position on the religious or political implications of the store policy, but looks forward to the people it will draw to other local shops and restaurants in town.

"The store is beautiful. The store is huge," he said, referring to the expansive shopping space that a store manager said is 44,000 square feet. "There's a lot of great positive buzz out there. Its soft opening exceeded expectations. They're off to a great start and were looking forward to having them in town for the long haul."

Protestors were of a different opinion and turned out in full force to oppose the store's policy regarding certain contraceptives.

"We're very disheartened with the Supreme Court decision regarding Hobby Lobby," said Cristina Cutrone, of Fair Lawn, a principal organizer of the protestors. "We do not support this very conservative decision."

She fears the court's decision could open a "huge can of worms" allowing other companies to deny healthcare coverage for certain healthcare services as a result. "We could start seeing companies not providing cancer services for their employees," she said.

Another one of the protestors, Dianne Douthat, of Wayne, also opposed the ruling in favor of Hobby Lobby.

"This is a clear blow to individual rights," she said. "Anyone who is not outraged by this is not paying attention. They need to wake up and smell the coffee."

Brendan Pierson, the new store's manager, seemed unfazed.

"We all have a voice and opinion," he said. "We have ours. They have their own."

He said that this is the chain's 615th store and that David Green, CEO and founder of the chain, is standing up for what he believes in, moving forward with a store that he started in his garage in the early 70s. Pierson, noted the successful grand soft opening of the store the prior week.

"On Friday it was just crazy," he said. "It was just packed here all day."

Despite the controversy, shoppers were already buzzing around the massive craft store's aisles even early on a Monday morning.

Denise Rebele, 56, of Woodland Park, was testing the aroma of scented candles in the store.